Marc-Andre ter Stegen on Thursday saved twice from the penalty spot to help Barcelona beat Real Betis Balompie 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw, setting up a Clasico Spanish Supercopa final.
The Catalans are to face their bitter rivals Real Madrid tomorrow after Carlo Ancelotti’s side beat Valencia on penalties on Wednesday.
Barcelona needed spot-kicks to see off Betis after an entertaining draw over 120 minutes at Riyadh’s King Fahd Stadium.
Photo: AFP
Robert Lewandowski put Barcelona ahead after 40 minutes, but Betis playmaker Nabil Fekir leveled with 13 minutes remaining.
Ansu Fati smashed in a fine volley to put Barcelona ahead in extra-time, but Loren Moron pulled Betis back level with a cunning backheeled flick.
Ter Stegen denied Juanmi and William Carvalho in the shoot-out and Pedri converted the decisive spot-kick.
“[The final] will be a very nice game, everyone wants to see these type of games, and we’ll be delighted to play it and win it,” Ter Stegen told Movistar.
The goalkeeper made some fine saves even before the shoot-out, where he was key.
“I would like to have less work in games,” Ter Stegen added. “For a year I’ve been at a very good level personally, physically, it’s the work too — every day I have a spectacular team that helps me improve and think about how to get better.”
Barcelona have not won the Supercopa since the change to a four-team format, with the first Saudi Arabia edition taking place in 2020.
After finishing last season without a single trophy and investing heavily in the summer despite the club’s debts, Xavi and his team are desperate for silverware.
Although winning the Supercopa would not be enough in itself, it would be a step in the right direction and Xavi’s first trophy since arriving in November 2021.
“Ter Stegen makes the difference for us, I am very happy with him,” Xavi told reporters. “He saved two penalties and we’re in the final. Now we have to compete in it and win it.”
Pedri had an early strike disallowed for offside, but Betis soon found their comfort zone, inspired by the artistry of Fekir and dynamism of Luiz Henrique.
However, Lewandowski, who missed the win over Atletico Madrid in La Liga on Sunday through suspension and was far from his best, broke the deadlock shortly before halftime.
After being fed by Ousmane Dembele, the Polish forward’s first effort was blocked, but he brought the ball under control again and managed to beat Claudio Bravo at the near post.
Ter Stegen made saves from Rodri and Henrique on a busy night for the German goalkeeper — just as it had been for his Real Madrid counterpart Thibaut Courtois the night before.
Fekir eventually leveled in the 77th minute after clever footwork from Henrique, drilling past Ter Stegen to force extra-time.
Three minutes into the additional period, Fati produced a piece of magic to put Barcelona back in front with a volley from the edge of the penalty area.
It did not last long, with Betis striking through Moron’s clever effort, backheeled past Ter Stegen despite close attention from Ronald Araujo.
Fati tried to reply with a backheel of his own, but former Barcelona goalkeeper Bravo was alert to deny him.
Veteran Betis midfielder Andres Guardardo was sent off late in extra-time for two yellow cards, but Barcelona did not have long enough to capitalize before the penalty shoot-out.
Both sides converted their first two spot-kicks, but Ter Stegen denied Juanmi to hand the Catalans the advantage.
Fati scored and Ter Stegen produced another save to foil Carvalho, with Pedri converting the next spot-kick to seal Barcelona’s progress.
“Betis fans should be proud of the team’s performance,” said defender Miranda, playing instead of Alex Moreno, who signed for Aston Villa this week. “We are, with the fight that we showed. We have a lot to learn and I hope we can be here again many more times.”
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